Candidate Profile: Raghib Allie-Brennan For 2nd Assembly District

Raghib Allie-Brennan, a Bethel resident is running for House of Representatives District 2.

Age: 29
Party affiliation: Democratic Party
Family:
Occupation: State Representative 2019 - current
Previous elected experience: State Representative 2019 - current
Family members in government: No
Campaign website: www.raghib2020.com

The single most pressing issue facing our state is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.
Our most pressing issue is the current pandemic. To support our towns, I’ve been working hard to help connect residents and local businesses to resources. I've called on Governor Lamont to extend outdoor dining through the end of the year. I send out daily COVID-19 updates. I’ve helped organize food drives for area food banks. I delivered 250 KN95 masks directly to the Candlewood Lake Authority Marine Patrol for the 2020 boating season. I joined some of my colleagues and visited area nursing and group homes to promote health care protections for residents and workers. I’ve even instituted a virtual weekly story time – because I know parents are desperately looking for activities for their kids. In 2019 I supported a balanced budget that increased our rainy day fund; giving us $2.5 billion to weather a recession, putting us in a better place and on stronger footing during the pandemic.

Over the past several months we have dealt with devastating losses in our communities. Many have lost their jobs and are struggling to feed their families. There are going to be tough conversations ahead and the 2nd District needs to keep its seat at the table and its voice in the room. And I’m the best person to do that. The months ahead will call for continued steady leadership, communication that is accurate and timely, and a full-time commitment.

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?
I believe the most important thing I’ve done is bring compassion, transparency, and accessibility to this office. I have held over two dozen legislative office hours and nearly a dozen roundtable discussions on the issues. I explain my votes and have allowed my constituents to be part of the process instead of spectators. My door is always open, and I am always just a phone call or email away.

My opponent served the district for 6 years and then abandoned it for what he thought would be greener pastures. He was so checked out of the job that he missed 54 votes in 2016. He has continued to pursue a narrative that is divisive talking about a "war on the suburbs" and that we are "one incident away" from turning into a Portland or Seattle. That is a disservice to the people of the 4 towns, its not who we are here in the 2nd district and it’s a blatant dog whistle.

The people of this district don’t have time for partisan games and baseless attacks and they don’t have the luxury of moving backwards. They want and need results and leaders who can work across the aisle to bring them results. I believe in finding common ground and making connections, not exploiting divisions. I stand by my record of doing just that. Because the people of the 2nd district want answers and solutions not typical partisan attacks. I think the voters have a clear choice to make. We can move forward...in a spirit of collaboration and with a commitment to service....or we can move backwards and once again embrace a spirit of division and negativity...the same characteristics that create and encourage hatred and fear.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?
I worked as a policy advisor mainly on energy and environmental policy in the U.S. House of Representatives from 2014 - 2016. There I developed an in-depth understanding of the legislative process and the importance of meeting with all stakeholders. I have also served as the Vice President of the HERO Project, which raises awareness and resources to combat the opioid epidemic in the Danbury area and a board member of Triangle Community Center. These roles helped me gain a further understanding of our communities needs from different perspectives.
As State Representative I kept my promise to put the 2nd District first.
Some of those accomplishments:
Passed legislation that increases oversight and accountability over Eversource.
Successfully opposed tolls, forcing proponents to find a better solution for our transportation needs.
Brought home millions in state dollars for 2nd District public schools to offset property taxes.
Supported a balanced budget that increased Connecticut's rainy day fund, putting us on stronger footing during the pandemic.
Passed a cap on insulin prices and provided better access to affordable quality healthcare.
Secured a $33,000 budget line item for Danbury Youth Services.
Helped secure $104K grant for the Danbury Police Activities League.
Expanded opportunities for local breweries & repealed the business entity tax, a key campaign promise.
Supported safe storage of firearms in the home.
Supported the state’s largest expansion of offshore wind energy and spearheaded the passage of solar energy legislation, increasing consumer choice and protecting over 2,200 local jobs.
Was designated an "Environmental Champion" by the League of Conservation Voters.
Received the 2019 Humane Legislator Award for my work in helping to end the puppy mill pipeline into CT pet shops.
Passed paid family and medical leave to give families peace of mind.
Made absentee ballots accessible to all for safe voting.

Do you believe Connecticut needs reform when it comes to electric utility oversight? What steps, if any should be taken?
It is clear that the current regulatory system is failing consumers and it is time to re-configure that system. As Vice Chair of the Energy Committee I was proud to help pass legislation, in a bipartisan manner, that will reform our utilities and finally hold Eversource accountable to Connecticut ratepayers. Tropical Storm Isaias knocked out power to about a million homes and businesses across the state, with the hardest-hit areas waiting nine days to get reconnected. All of this took place while Connecticut residents pay some of the highest utility rates across the country, including a recent increase enacted by Eversource. This is a good start, but we are not done addressing the issues of rate increases and poor performance during storm response. The Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA) has ongoing investigations into Eversource and these investigations will lead to legislative proposals for the 2021 session. I look forward to working with my colleagues to ensure the people of Connecticut receive the service they deserve and pay for.
Our bill will:
• Move to a system of "Performance Based Ratemaking" – where PURA establishes standards the utilities must meet, develops metrics for determining progress, and can issue penalties if the utilities fail to meet the standard;
• Require the utilities provide bill credits for food, medicine and reduced charges when lack of preparation by the utility leads to outages lasting more than 96 hours;
• Fix the portion of executive salaries that come from ratepayers to the company's performance;
• Develop minimum staffing levels for lineman, communications personnel and others to make sure the utilities respond to storms quickly and convey information to their customers in a timely fashion;
• Work with our regional partners to reduce ratepayer risk and better
leverage competition – reducing the utilities monopoly.

What steps should state government take to bolster economic recovery from the coronavirus pandemic for local businesses?
The pandemic has not been even-handed, with economically vulnerable
communities hit much harder than others. As we craft future budgets and rebuild our economy, we must create structures that support all of us to participate in that rebuilt economy. That means building the framework to create good, stable jobs, and ensuring access to healthcare, to a quality education, to affordable housing.

In speaking with local business owners, I’ve learned that some of the executive orders have lifted onerous regulations that have made it hard for some of our small businesses to operate. I support making some of the executive orders enacted, which have eased restrictions, permanent law. We must also look at healthcare. I will push for the creation of a public option which would allow small businesses and nonprofits to buy into the same system that state employees benefit from. This would be good both for employers that struggle to afford healthcare for their valued employees and for the workers they employ.

List other issues that define your campaign platform:
I will continue my efforts to raise awareness about the opioid epidemic so we can make our communities safer and help people suffering from addiction. Comprehensive drug education in schools, sterile needle exchanges, and increasing access to life-saving medications like Naloxone, better known as Narcan, will help to prevent overdoses from turning into fatalities. We need to prioritize diversion programs, rehabilitation, and education to break the cycle of drug abuse. I have worked with the Morrissey family from New Milford to help introduce Brian Cody’s Law which calls for enhanced support systems to help those struggling with opioid addiction, stricter penalties for suppliers of lethal overdoses, better oversight of tracking opioids and waste, and ending safe havens – such as ‘trap houses’ where numerous overdoses occur on a frequent basis. The current pandemic canceled the 2020 legislative session, but I look forward to continuing our work in 2021.

Our communities know all too well the horrors of gun violence. I remain deeply committed to working to make Bethel, Danbury, Newtown, and Redding safe places to live, work, and go to school. We can protect our schools, streets, communities, and the rights of law-abiding gun owners simultaneously. These goals are not at odds. In the last two years we made Connecticut safer by closing loopholes in the Safe Storage Law and permitting schools to teach firearms safety. I also opposed the punitive addition of an excise tax on ammunition. Together we can protect peoples’ safety and gun owners’ rights.

What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?
During my first time, I've been able to make progress on issues we were told we would never accomplish. More importantly we've been able to use the office to bring attention to issues people have never heard about and stories that have never been told. We've taken the time to explain tough issues and bring residents into the process as partners, rather than sowing division and keeping them out as spectators. I've met with young people and students who see hope in a diverse candidate like myself. I've been inspired by their hope and optimism.

My parents came from poverty and built a better life for their children. The idea that we are to give back to others and take care of our neighbors was instilled in me at an early age, along with the idea that needing help doesn't make a person or group weak or undeserving. Throughout the pandemic , we have been able to help so many in need from DOL issues to helping non-english speaking small business owners navigate applications and Executive Orders...that's truly what I think public service is all about and what I hope to continue doing. Service is an honor, not an obligation. I've been honored to serve and represent the people of the 2nd District and I hope to continue to do so. We can't go backwards.